White River Brides

by Frances Devine

  “What are your plans?” Her eyes, darkened with worry and apprehension, nevertheless showed trust.

  Jack hesitated. To be honest, he wouldn’t know until he arrived on the scene. If the house was quiet and peaceful, there was little they could do but go home and wait to see the judge. But if there was trouble at the cabin, he would be there to see it.

  He shook his head. “Not sure at this point. So the going is rough between here and the cabin.” He had planned to check out the Flanigan place, make sure no one tried to take it over. The girls might want it someday. But he hadn’t made it over there yet.

  “Yes, but if we take the long way around, it could take two hours, and we’d have to cross the river at one point.” Lexie shivered. “And to think those little girls came all the way through the woods by themselves when their pa died.”

  Jack nodded. There were so many things he’d never asked the girls about. It seemed that Lexie had though.

  Silence fell upon them. Jack glanced at Lexie and saw a look of sorrow on her face. The same look that had been there after she’d accepted his proposal. So it wasn’t just the girls’ absence causing her distress.

  She didn’t love him. That was obvious. She probably hated the thought of becoming his wife. He sighed. He needed to let her know he wouldn’t expect her to be a wife in the physical sense. That was the only decent thing to do. Although the thought of being near her day by day and never holding her in his arms was agony. His heart sank. She probably wouldn’t marry him anyway if they didn’t get the girls back.

  He leaned forward in his chair, and she jumped and clasped a hand at her throat. Then she gave a tremulous little laugh and sat back.

  Oh God, is she afraid of me?

  “Jack, hadn’t we better go? By the time we get through the woods it will be good and dark.”

  “I guess you’re right. You’d best button that coat up. It’ll be colder in the woods.” He stood and waited for her, then took her elbow as she walked down the steps. At least she didn’t pull away.

  Jack lit a lantern and hung it up front. They’d need it as soon as they entered the woods. He planned to extinguish it when they got close to the Flanigan cabin. He’d have to get down and lead the mules from that point.

  An owl hooted nearby, and Lexie gasped then laughed. “Only an old hoot owl.”

  “They can be a little startling.” He scanned the woods in front and on all sides. Mountain lions sometimes came down. They didn’t usually bother humans, but they might try for the mules. His rifle was in easy reach, just in case.

  The wagon bumped over tree roots and rocks and rolled on. Jack felt each bump and knew Lexie must be uncomfortable. But she didn’t offer one word of complaint.

  After what seemed like hours but was probably only twenty minutes or so, Lexie spoke out of the darkness. “We’re about halfway now. How soon should we blow out the lantern?”

  “I think we can wait another ten minutes or so. The woods are too thick for a light to be seen very far away.”

  Lexie shivered and pulled her scarf tighter.

  “I’m sorry you’re cold. I never should have agreed to your coming with me.”

  “You couldn’t have stopped me.” She sighed. “I’m not trying to be stubborn or argumentative, but I need to be there in case Tuck and Addy need me.”

  “I understand. I know how much you love the girls. Lexie, I promise I’ll do everything in my power to get them back for you.”

  “I know you will. And I know how much you love them, too. I trust you to do what you can. More than that, it’s out of your hands. We have to trust God.”

  Peace washed over him. She was right. Of course. He had prayed and put the twins in God’s hands. Then almost immediately he started to worry again. Lord, grant me more faith.

  The wagon lurched and started to tip, then righted itself.

  “Whew,” Lexie breathed.

  “Yes, whew is right,” Jack said. “I thought we were going over for sure. It would have been fun trying to get the wagon turned upright in the dark.”

  “Jack, did you hear that?” Lexie looked around.

  “Hear what?” Then he heard it, too. Voices. Children’s voices.

  Suddenly two small forms stumbled in front of the wagon, and the mules shied. “Whoa!” Jack pulled on the reins with all his might, and the animals stopped in their tracks.

  “Mr. Jack! Miss Lexie! We knew you’d come.” Tuck grinned and threw her arms around Lexie, who was already out of the wagon and holding both girls.

  Jack tied the mules to a tree and joined them. “What are you girls doing in the woods all by yourselves at night?”

  Tuck shrugged. “Bella and her huckster husband went to sleep early because Bella said she was beat from running after us rotten kids all afternoon. So we got ourselves out of there.”

  “Yes,” Addy said, shivering. “But we were getting awfully cold. So we prayed that you’d come find us. And here you are.”

  Lexie closed her eyes and shuddered at the thought of the girls in the woods by themselves. What if something had happened to them? She breathed a “thank You” to God.

  Jack turned and stared intently at Tuck. “Did you say Bella is married?”

  “Yep, she even has a wedding ring. Don’t know why she wasn’t wearing it when she came to get us.”

  Lexie glanced at Jack, whose eyes met hers. Why did he have that hopeful look? What difference did it make if Bella was married? If she had a husband, the judge was even more likely to allow her to keep the twins.

  “You know why she wanted us?” An indignant frown appeared on Addy’s face. “She thinks our pa had a stash of treasures hidden somewhere and that we could show her where to find it.”

  “The very idea.” Anger and disbelief rose in Lexie. “I could have understood if she wanted you girls for herself. After all, you are wonderful children. But for money?”

  “Yeah, we told her we didn’t know.” Tuck nodded and glanced at Addy. “But she didn’t believe us. She said we could think overnight about the punishment we’d get in the morning if we didn’t lead her to it.”

  Addy shivered. “She never did say what the punishment would be, but I’ll bet it would be bad. She really wants that stash.”

  “No one is going to punish you.” Lexie’s eyes swam and she blinked back the tears. “Climb into the wagon now. We need to get you girls home and warmed up.”

  After they were all settled in, Jack turned the wagon around and headed back toward home.

  “I never knew God would answer prayer that fast.” Tuck’s voice held amazement.

  Lexie turned and glanced at both girls, happy to have them close by once more. But for how long?

  “God loves you very much. And He always answers our prayers, even if the answer sometimes isn’t what we’re expecting.” Should she pray that God would let her and Jack keep them? But how did she know that was His will? Surely He wouldn’t want the girls to live with someone like Bella, would He?

  Addy darted a glance back the way they’d come. “I hope they don’t wake up and follow us.”

  Tuck laughed. “Even if they did, they’d go the long way. They’d get lost for sure if they tried to come through the woods.”

  “Could you hide us, Miss Lexie?” Addy’s voice trembled.

  “Don’t worry, sweetheart,” Lexie said, her voice firm. “We won’t let her take you until we’ve at least let the judge know the truth about her.”

  “That’s right.” Jack flicked the reins in an attempt to get the mules to go faster, but instead a groaning sound came from the axle on one of the wheels. He yanked on the reins to stop the mules then jumped down.

  Lexie and the girls bent over the side, watching as he examined the wheel.

  “Is it gonna come off, Mr. Jack?” Tuck leaned over until she was nearly upside down.

  “Get back in the wagon before you fall, Tuck.” Jack waved her back and continued to examine the wobbly wheel. He stood and looked at Lexie. “I
should have brought some tools along. Don’t know what I was thinking. I guess I’ve been on the river too long.”

  “What will you do?” A pang went through Lexie at the self-blame on his face.

  “I think it’ll hold long enough to get us back home. I’ll have to lead the mules to make sure they don’t take us over any large rocks or tree roots.”

  Slowly and carefully, they inched their way through the woods, lantern light bobbing eerily through the darkness. When they finally came out of the woods into the clearing by the farm, a cheer went up from Addy and Tuck.

  “I knew you’d get us home, Mr. Jack,” Tuck declared. “Didn’t you, Miss Lexie?”

  “Yes, I knew he’d get us home, too.” A streak of mischief rose up and she grinned. “But I must admit I wasn’t always sure that the wagon would make it. I felt a little nervous a time or two.”

  The girls howled with laughter, and Jack gave her a very fake hurt look. “And here I thought you trusted me implicitly.”

  “What’s implicitly mean?” Tuck asked.

  “I’m not sure, but it sounded good.” He grinned and stopped the mules in front of the porch.

  “Well,” said Lexie, stepping down, “it has more than one meaning, Tuck. Why don’t you look it up in the dictionary in the morning?”

  “Aww, I hate dictionaries,” Tuck complained.

  “But do you hate cold fried chicken?” Lexie knew the answer.

  “We have fried chicken?” Addy jumped up and down.

  “Aunt Kate sent some with me.” She glanced at Jack. “We’ll get things on the table and eat when you’re done with the mules. Then you can take me home.”

  “All right.” He grinned. “That chicken sounds mighty good to me, too.”

  The sound of galloping hooves and squeaking wheels drew their attention. A buggy carrying Bella and the huckster flew across the yard.

  “So you thought you could steal my children, did you?” Her shrill voice rang out across the barnyard. When her companion pulled the horse to a stop, she climbed out. “You’ll go to jail for this.”

  Cold rage clutched Lexie. How dare this coarse woman come here making threats in front of Tuck and Addy?

  Jack stepped forward. “Well, Mrs. Flanigan. Oh wait. I forgot you had remarried. What is your name?”

  The huckster got down and darted his hand out in Jack’s direction. “The name’s Barker. Clyde Barker.”

  Jack ignored the hand. “Tell me, Clyde, when did you two get married?”

  “Why, we’ve been married for nearly a year. Soon after we left here.”

  “Shut up, you idiot!” Bella’s face flamed.

  “Are either of you aware that bigamy is a federal offense?” Jack stood with a thoughtful look. “Let’s see, I believe I heard of a recent case where a woman got seven years in jail. The law didn’t take kindly to her marrying when she already had a husband.”

  Realizing his mistake, Clyde grabbed Bella’s hand and started backing up toward the buggy. “I just remembered I have an appointment in another state in a few days.”

  Bella yanked her hand away from his. “You had to open your mouth, didn’t you?” With a glare at the girls, she followed her husband and climbed into the buggy. “You haven’t heard the end of this.”

  Lexie threw Jack a gleeful look as the buggy raced across the field. “Oh, I’m pretty sure we have.”

  Chapter 23

  Laughter exploded through the Jenkins’ barn. Fourteen-year-old Ted Meisner stood in the middle of the floor, encircled by more youngsters his age. The Irish jig he was attempting looked more like a toddler tripping over his feet than a dance.

  “Okay, you young’uns,” Lewis Packard called from the makeshift platform at the front of the barn, “you better use some of that energy and form a circle. Come on, everybody, let’s shoot the owl.”

  Lexie laughed along with the others who were cleaning away the remains of supper. The tables had been shoved to the side, and pies, cakes, and punch would stay out for those who needed sustenance after taking part in the lively reels.

  “Here comes your beau, Lexie.” Mrs. Jenkins grinned. “I think he’s a-lookin’ for a dance partner.”

  Lexie looked up and saw Jack heading in her direction. She groaned. Her feet burned, and she’d hoped to avoid the stomping steps of the figures tonight. But how would it look if she refused to dance with the man she was marrying the next day?

  She’d seen him and the girls nearly every day since the incident with their stepmother. The day afterward, Jack had gone to see the judge. When that good man found out about Bella and that Jack and Lexie were getting married and wanted to adopt the twins, he promised to contact the proper officials to find out the truth of the matter. Within two weeks, he had the proof, and after talking to Tuck and Addy, he had authorized the adoption when and if the wedding should take place. In the meantime, he allowed the girls to remain with Jack.

  Jack’s determination in the matter endeared him to Lexie more than ever. Lately she’d begun to take notice of his little kindnesses and the tender looks he cast her way. Was it possible she’d misunderstood him? His glances seemed…well…loving.

  She went to meet him as he neared the table. His eyes crinkled as he took her hand. “Do you want to join the reel or would you rather find a couple of empty chairs along the wall and watch?”

  “Oh, bless you, the chairs.” She let him lead her around the sides of the building until they came across two chairs together. “Thank you,” she breathed as she lowered herself gratefully onto the high-backed cane-bottom chair. “It’s nice that the weather turned off warm, isn’t it?” She waved a handkerchief in front of her face.

  “You might not think so if you were out there on the floor.” He chuckled and motioned toward Tuck and Addy. Perspiration ran down their faces and their wet curls were flying loose.

  “Perhaps not.” She waved harder. “But last year we had to cancel because of ice.”

  “Is that so?” He gave her a warm look and she quickly glanced away. “Lexie, are we going to speak of the weather all evening?”

  “What did you wish to talk about?”

  Jack glanced over at the woman next to Lexie, who was making no secret of the fact she was listening. He gave her a pointed nod, and Lexie couldn’t prevent a giggle from escaping.

  “Since, as you mentioned, it is a warm night, would you like to take a stroll to the river?”

  Would she? She’d been so busy lately she’d had little time to spend on the riverbank, enjoying the sounds, smells, and sights. She stood and felt the vibration from the dance steps beneath her feet. “Let’s ask Aunt Kate to keep an eye on the twins.”

  After her aunt had agreed to watch Tuck and Addy, Jack and Lexie strolled silently to the riverbank, Jack holding her hand firmly in his. She gave a gentle tug, and he just as gently refused to let go. A tingling began in her fingertips and flowed upward. She took a deep breath. He’d taken her hand before. What was different this time?

  They stepped over to a huge oak tree, its branches bare and stark in the moonlight. Lexie turned to face Jack and leaned against the thick tree trunk. He loosened his grip from her hand, and disappointment washed over her. She sighed. She might as well accept it. This is how it would be, her longing for him and his pulling back. But only a few minutes ago, he’d been warm, approachable.

  “Lexie, I need to talk to you about our marriage.” His eyes bored into hers, dark with anxiety. Oh dear, had he changed his mind about getting married?

  “Yes, Jack? What is it?”

  He inhaled a ragged breath and let it out slowly. “You’re probably going to think I was an idiot. But you see, when I proposed to you, I was under the impression you were starting to care for me. The way I care about you.”

  “But of course I care about you. You’re very dear to me, Jack.”

  He gave an impatient little laugh. “No, Lexie. I don’t mean like you care for a friend. I love you very deeply, and I thought you were begi
nning to feel the same.”

  What? He loved her? Then why hadn’t he said so? A tiny spark of hope burned inside her heart then slowly fanned out into widespread joy. He loved her.

  “When I realized you didn’t, I knew I couldn’t expect you to…well…be a wife in the full sense of the word.”

  She gasped. Oh no. They needn’t have a loveless marriage after all. Or even the kind of marriage he was about to mention.

  “So I’ve decided to sleep in the barn loft until I can build some sort of cabin for myself.” He darted a glance at her. “I realize you want the marriage for the girls’ sake, and that’s all right. I wanted you to know.”

  She had to let him know she loved him, too. That they could have a real marriage. But how? Without sounding unseemly or wanton? Tears rolled down her cheeks, and she couldn’t prevent the sob that burst from her throat.

  “Lexie, honey, what’s wrong? I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you. I promise I won’t say another word about it. It’s enough that we know.”

  She swallowed past another sob and wiped her eyes and cheeks with the back of her hands. She blinked past her tears and gave a little laugh. “Jack, I can’t believe how foolish we’ve both been. I love you, too, with all my heart. I didn’t know you loved me. You never really said so.”

  She watched joyfully as he took in what she had said. A light started deep inside his eyes and suddenly flamed with the realization that she loved him. The next thing she knew she was in his arms and he was kissing her eyes, her face, and she received his kisses with joyful abandon.

  Finally he drew back and gazed at her. His eyes darkened and slowly he leaned his head toward her. She met his lips with her own.

  Lexie stood outside the tent and waited for her cue. She trembled from nerves and from the cold that had come down from the north in the middle of the night. But she didn’t care. Cold, warm, hot? She giggled. She experienced all those when she was with Jack anyway.

  She could see the girls in their lacy white frocks. They were perfectly in step with each other and the music. She had received a few incredulous looks when she announced that Tuck and Addy would be her bridesmaids. She supposed they were a little young, and it might have been more suitable for them to be flower girls, but she’d made her choice and didn’t regret it.